Ant McPartlin latest news: Could TV star give ex-wife £30 million?

ANT McPartlin is believed to be ready to hand over half of his £60million fortune in a divorce settlement with his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong.

PUBLISHED: 00:01, Wed, Nov 7, 2018
| UPDATED: 14:11, Wed, Nov 7, 2018

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The pair could both return to court in the coming weeks in a bid to finalise their split.

Ant and Lisa had a hearing to start finalising the settlement at the High Court on Monday this week - but only she turned up.

The 42-year-old star was slammed by a judge for not appearing in person. He was seen out walking his beloved dog Hurley at the time he should have been in court.

Dressed in a black bomber jacket and baseball cap, Ant laughed and joked with his new partner Anne-Marie Corbett, 42, as they took a stroll on Wimbledon Common, south-west London. A spokesman later said he was shocked as he had been told by his legal team he did not need to be there.

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The couple are likely to return for further negotiation over a financial settlement - believed to be around £30million for Lisa. It is understood they will be accompanied not only by their legal teams but also friends and family. "They could be back and it is likely to be in a matter of days," said a source.

"Ant has agreed that Lisa is going to get half of everything. He was told that he did not have to be there so he was shocked at the judge having a go at him. It was nothing to do with him being on television."

Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist Lisa, 42, was in the family division of the High Court to hear Judge Nicholas Mostyn's warning to Ant.

But the divorce settlement may not be finalised until next year - with custody of their pet Labrador Hurley still a major stumbling block.

The Saturday Night Takeaway star is understood to have credited the pet with helping him through his recent struggles with alcohol and substance abuse issues.

Ant with girlfriend Lisa during happier times (Image: Getty)

Ant and Lisa earlier this year, before the divorce proceedings (Image: Getty)

A source close to Ant said: "It's moving forward but divorce at this level is a long process." Ant and Lisa were granted a divorce in just 30 seconds at a hearing last month.

Court documents revealed she had listed adultery as the reason their 11-year marriage crumbled just two months before he was caught drink driving following a car crash in March.

Ant pled guilty to a drinkdriving charge, admitting he had "let a lot of people down". He was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £86,000.

Following the incident he stepped away from his TV commitments with co-presenter and best friend Declan Donnelly and has been replaced by Holly Willoughby for the next series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

McPartlin revealed last year that he had been battling a prescription painkiller addiction after a knee injury he suffered in 2014.